Sharing news about two upcoming hiking events at Pepperwood Preserve, the 3,120-acre nature preserve just northeast of Santa Rosa. It’s home to literally hundreds of plant and animal species and is worth exploring.

From the Pepperwood folks:

June 1 (9am to 3pm) $25 – Newcomers: Exploring Pepperwood’s Homestead History – Arthur Dawson, historical ecologist and authority on the landscape history of eastern Sonoma County, will lead us on a journey through time exploring Pepperwood for clues about the people who used the land and called it home in the mid-19th century. What sort of landscape did they find when they arrived? Where were they from? What remains of their lives and the changes they made to the land? Learn about the early Mexican ranchers, visit old American homestead sites, check out historical maps, and consider what has changed and what is still changing.

June 8 (9am to 1pm) FREE – Public Hike at Pepperwood – Join us for a FREE general introduction to the natural history and land management of Pepperwood Preserve. This is a moderate 4-5 mile hike with an elevation loss and gain of about 750 feet. Participants should be in good health and able to hike over hilly terrain. Advanced registration required. All hikes are rain or shine. Plan to hike with the group; leaving early or separating from the group is NOT PERMITTED. Participants are encouraged to wear appropriate clothing (layers!) and sturdy boots. Please bring a day pack with snacks, water, field guides, etc.

About This Blog

A Buffalo , New York native, I spent half of my life hibernating indoors, but for the past five years I have basked in the thrilling opportunity to enjoy year round hiking on the many trails of beautiful Northern California. In this blog I will continue in the tradition of trailhead, to recap the hikes I have taken and share the insights of my fellow hikers. Along with day hikes, I am also interested in dog friendly trails, and backpacking trips as well. Please feel free to offer suggestions of where I should hike next, or share tales of where you have explored. . Guest blog entries are extremely welcome as are your photos from your own hikes.